Pudge to retire as a Ranger

    Former Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez will announce his retirement on Monday at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, after 21 major league seasons. Pudge will also be retiring as a Texas Ranger on Monday.

   Rodriguez and the Ranger Ball Club confirmed these plans Thursday. The Rangers plan to honor the All-Star catcher with an on-field ceremony before they face the New York Yankees. Rodriguez will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

    Rodriguez won the 1999 American League MVP and also went to 10 straight All-Star Games with the Rangers. He was not able to find a job this spring. The 40-year-old who is affectionately known as "Pudge" began his two-decade-plus major league career with the Rangers back in 1991.

    Rodriguez was also a four-time All-Star with the Detroit Tigers and he won a World Series as a member of the 2003 Florida Marlins.

    Rodriguez signed with the Marlins after spending all or parts of 12 seasons with the Rangers. He then returned back to Texas in 2009 when the Rangers acquired him after their catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia was injured late in the season.

    Rodriguez was part of three AL West champion teams in Texas in 1996, 1998 and 1999. He hit .332 with 35 homers and 113 RBIs and stole 25 bases during his MVP season.
    Rodriguez becomes the third longtime catcher to retire since last season ended, joining Jorge Posada and Jason Varitek.
    Rodriguez finishes his career with a .296 batting average, 2,884 hits, 311 home runs and 1,332 RBIs. He broke the record of 10 Gold Gloves at catcher that had been held by Johnny Bench and hit .300 or better 10 times.